CJI Surya Kant Clarifies After Criticism Over His 'Youngsters Like Cockroaches' Remark

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, a day after criticism over his cockroach remark on unemployed youths, issued a clarification on Saturday, saying that he is pained to read how a section of the media misquoted his oral observations during the hearing of a frivolous case.Likening some unemployed youngsters to cockroaches, CJI Surya Kant on Friday said they go on to "become" media, social media and RTI activists and start attacking the system.However, after backlash over his comments, the CJI issued a clarification saying, "I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday."He said, "What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions

like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites."Further talking about his oral observations, the CJI said, "It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India."

What Did CJI Surya Kant Exactly Say?

On Friday, CJI's comments came while a two-judge bench, including him and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, was pulling up a lawyer for "pursuing" a senior advocate designation. It said there were already "parasites" in society who attack the system and asked the petitioner whether he wanted to join hands with them."The entire world may be eligible to become senior (advocate), but at least you are not entitled," the bench told the petitioner lawyer.A visibly anguished CJI observed that if the Delhi High Court would confer senior advocate designation upon the petitioner, the apex court would set that aside seeing his professional conduct.The CJI also referred to the kind of language used by the petitioner on Facebook."There are already parasites of society who attack the system and you want to join hands with them?" he said."There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone," he said. The bench also asked the petitioner whether he did not have any other litigation."Is this the conduct of a person who seeks to be designated as a senior advocate?" the bench asked. It said senior advocate designation is something that is conferred on a person and is not to be pursued."You are pursuing it. Does it look proper?" the top court said, asking whether a senior advocate designation was a status symbol to be kept ornamentally.It also observed that it wanted to ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to verify the degrees of many of those who were wearing black robes as there were serious doubts over the genuineness of their degrees.It said the Bar Council of India would never do anything on this issue as they "need their votes".The petitioner apologised to the bench and sought permission to withdraw the petition. The bench allowed the withdrawal of the petition.With inputs from PTI